freestompboxes.org

Oh right thanks.
So I just need get the pots where i want them, then wire them up as per the diagram? That would make a lot more sense ( I wonder why i didnt think about that before...)
I'll probably be back when I fail miserably and it doent work/ everything is the wrong way round...

What's the reason that this circuit needs such gigantic input and output caps to sound full, compared to most other 'normal' stompbox circuits? The electros it has stock are very large and the modded values mentioned earlier are even more so.

Hey guys,
As i brilliantly predicted I'm back here with badly burnt fingers and a fuzzboxx that doesnt work
I was just wondering should it matter that I've made the board in reverse (igloos vero layout). Instead of having the components sticking up off the board like shown on the diagram, my components are under it, with the side with the tracks and solder sticking upwards. However im pretty sure that theyre still oriented the same way (as if you were looking through the veroboard from above)???

And secondly as far as grounds are concerned do i just attach them all together then connect them to the negative lead of the battery clip and the the two sleeves of the jacks? I was trying to follow the 'first wrapper' from this (http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/w ... rapper.htm) site to save time, but got confused by the two grounds...

If anyone can help I would be incrediably greatful...

mttpkr wrote:Hey guys,
As i brilliantly predicted I'm back here with badly burnt fingers

Congratulations! Was going to link to the Solder Fingers thread, but we have work to do:

and a fuzzboxx that doesnt work

Oops, not so good, but welcome to debugging, the place where you really learn.

I was just wondering should it matter that I've made the board in reverse (igloos vero layout). Instead of having the components sticking up off the board like shown on the diagram, my components are under it, with the side with the tracks and solder sticking upwards. However im pretty sure that theyre still oriented the same way (as if you were looking through the veroboard from above)???

If turning the board upside up or downside down does not help, you should read this:
How to read a veroboard or stripboard layout?

And secondly as far as grounds are concerned do i just attach them all together then connect them to the negative lead of the battery clip and the the two sleeves of the jacks? I was trying to follow the 'first wrapper' from this (http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/w ... rapper.htm) site to save time, but got confused by the two grounds..

Yes, and make sure all ground connections are ok.

For further debugging you need more information, but step 1: isolate the problem. Are you sure the problem is on your board (not on jacks, power, switch, bad cables?)? If yes then move over to...

What is an audio probe and why do I need one?

But believe me, any project containing germanium transistors is bound to demotivate a beginner. What are you using. Are all transistors orientations ok? (check datasheet using google), are the GE ok?

You could also already measure the voltages on the transistors...

Hey thanks for the help.
As for the transistors im using a pair of medium gain matched ac128s from banzai effects, and im pretty (well fairly) sure theyre the right way round.
The really annoying thing is that Ive had the circuit working before, but with all the pots wired wrong and into the wrong places! *grrr mumble mumble*
I'll have another look at it now and see if i can get anything to happen. Scruffie's full wiring diagram is correct isnt it?
I really hope it doesnt have to come to making an audio probe, i mean my patience is wearing thin as it is!

mttpkr wrote:Hey thanks for the help.

No thanks needed, but please follow the advice given...

mttpkr wrote:im pretty (well fairly) sure theyre the right way round.

There is no such thing - either you have checked the datasheet or not.

mttpkr wrote:The really annoying thing is that Ive had the circuit working before, but with all the pots wired wrong and into the wrong places! *grrr mumble mumble*

This isn't annoying: it's hopegiving and your most important clue. It will pay off to check the wiring first.

I'll have another look at it now and see if i can get anything to happen. Scruffie's full wiring diagram is correct isnt it?

Don't know it, please when talking about documents online (even in the thread) link to them, so everybody knows what you're talking about. And why don't you follow the advice I gave you

mttpkr wrote:I really hope it doesnt have to come to making an audio probe, i mean my patience is wearing thin as it is!

You're the one to blame: for making the circuit, the mistake, the badly documented questions, the ignoring of the advice given. If you are going to get it working it will be by sheer luck.

-test circuit without switch
-measure power on transistors and power rail
-check transistor pinout on datasheet

Most of the basic question are also dealt with in the new FAQ section

Sorry but thanks anyway for the advice
I did check the data sheet when i put the transistors in but as always i could have made a mistake, and it was reading the schems backwards that led to the wiring problem in the first place.
I realised pretty much straight away that i did need the audio probe and its been a massive help. Ive been testing away and im pretty sure its just my wiring to the pots thats holding me back. From some of them the sound is sort of crackley and intermittent, like theres a break in the wire. Im gona redo them and see waht happens. Oh and thanks for the pointer on the FAQ section - somehow i managed to miss that when i was browsing the site - would have made life so much easier!

I have built the circuit on bread board and although it works fine I have some questions related to the functionality.

1. I use a stratocaster and when I turn the guitar volume to zero the circuit oscillates. Is that normal ?

2. The drive control seems to produce a significant gain between 90-100% of the rotation.

3. The gate control "crackles".

Many thanks for any help in advance.

Hi Friend,

All you mentionned is normal in that ZVEX design

Space Jm wrote:Hi Friend,

All you mentionned is normal in that ZVEX design

Thanks a lot.

hi guys and girls!

I'm building my 3rd Fuzz Factory, this one is for a friend with a customized box. the problem is that there's a small litlle sound when the pedal is ON. Is an oscillation that is always soundind, is unaudible when the volume or drive pot are at high level, but it's still there.

any solution on this?
thanx in advance

aD

Constant Oscillation... are you using germanium transistors? Could be leaky...

yes, I'm using AC188.

I've put a 3 legged socket to test all AC188 I've got.

1.- Very low ouput (really very low).
2.- a very good level output, but no oscillation on stab. (a low oscillation is constant).
3.- a normal level output, stab oscillation good (oscillation is very audible at some preset). maybe the better is this one!
4.- Similar to all the mentioned.

Is there any way to get a very good output, stab oscillation and 0 oscillation leakage?

thanx Scruffie!!
aD

The leakage is the transistors, unless you mean in bypass, in which case, input ground the pedal and use the 3rd set of transistors that sounded better

Also check out R.G Keens technology of the fuzz face for transistor selecting.

You can solve that by grounding the output of the circuit in bypass. It may help to switch to AC128's or similar, i've never had good results with AC188's. They're designed for much higher voltages.

Hi guys , a fast question for you guys , do I need one mono jack and one stereo or two mono jacks?

One stereo jack for the input and one mono jack for the output.

You only need 1 stereo and 1 mono if you intend to use a battery, if you are just using a DC jack you can use just 2 mono jacks.

Thats what I thought , thanks a bunch.

Just built this using 2 bc55ab's and a mpsa18 instead of the ones in the schematic - it seems to work well. Very high gainy fuzzy sound, maybe slightly too much treble for my liking though...